AG congratulates Magashule, Mohai for clean audits

The provincial treasury was honoured for achieving three consecutive clean audits and the premier’s office was commended for achieving successive clean audits

Former Free State MEC for finance, Seiso Mohai has received praise from the auditor general (AG), Terence Nombembe, for his sterling leadership in the provincial treasury, which received three consecutive clean audit reports for prudent financial management.

Nombembe was handing over Operation 2014 Clean Audit Awards to two Free State provincial government departments and the provincial legislature on Wednesday last week at the Phillip Saunders resort in Bloemfontein.

The provincial treasury was honoured for achieving three consecutive clean audits in the 2009 / 2010, 2010 / 2011 and 2011 / 2012 financial years and the office of the premier was also commended for achieving clean audits in the 2010 / 2011 and 2011 / 2012 financial years. The Free State legislature also scooped an award for receiving a clean audit for the 2011 / 2012 financial year.

Nombembe congratulated the treasury for its judicious financial management which led to the three successive clean audits and recognised Mohai’s crucial role in this regard.

Mohai was appointed the MEC for finance after the 2009 general elections until he was redeployed to parliament to become an MP following a cabinet reshuffle. He was replaced by the former director-general, Elsabe Rockman.

Nombembe acknowledged the importance of the provincial treasury setting an example and maintaining high financial and accounting standards. He also congratulated the Legislature on the achievement of a clean audit and indicated that it is has set a good example with regards to compliance.

The award for the provincial legislature was received by Speaker Ouma Tsopo, while the Rockman received the award on behalf of the provincial treasury and Premier Ace Magashule received the Operation Clean Audit Award on behalf of his department.

“The office of the premier had specific challenges relating to ensuring that provincial department meets certain standards on financial management whilst also setting example and supporting other departments and municipalities. I would moreover like to emphasise the importance and essential requirement of following prescribed accounting processes and procedures by all of the public service,” said Nombembe.

Magashule said the provincial government will crack the whip to ensure that departments and municipalities improve their audit outcomes.

“We must now up our game by making sure that everybody preforms better, while the delivery of the much needed basic services is also greatly improved. We have to improve our audit outcomes in the province and match that with the delivery of tangible services to our people so that we can tackle unemployment and poverty,” said Magashule.

Rockman has expressed satisfaction that her department has achieved three successive clean audit reports.

“These achievements present a challenge for us to do more and pull the socks of those departments and municipalities who still don’t perform well. We are up to the challenge.”